Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB) members design and implement a variety of projects to help address youth community needs and elevate the youth voice in the community.
Past YOAB projects include hosting panel discussions on youth mental health and LGBTQ+ harassment, conducting youth surveys and organizing an environmental summit. YOAB is part of the Youth Opportunities Program, which is a program of Housing & Human Services/Youth & Family Services.
Beginning in 2025, YOAB community projects are focused on advancing priority areas in the Boulder Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) the Youth Action Plan: Addressing Bulling, Improving Safety and Belonging, and Sharing Opinions with the City.
YOAB x Boulder PD
Originally created through the Reimagining Policing Plan, the YOAB x Boulder Police Department workgroup continues to work to improve understanding, build trust and enhance relationships between youth communities and Boulder police.
YOAB members and representatives from the Boulder Police Department collaborate on activities such as team-building outings, learning sessions, community tabling during school lunch time at high schools in Boulder participating in school spirit activities and hosting Teen Town Hall and open house events at the police department’s Public Safety Building.
Substance Education and Awareness Fund
The Substance Education and Awareness (SEA) Fund aims to address the prominent issue of substance use by fostering widespread community awareness and distributing informative programs. It strives for a shift in community perceptions regarding the risks associated with substance use, particularly concerning children and youth. The ultimate goal is to prevent or reduce youth engagement in alcohol and recreational drug use.
YOAB serves as a funding advisory group for the SEA Fund, by reviewing grant applications and recommending grant recipients and allocation amounts.
MLK Youth Day of Service
Every year, YOAB hosts the Youth Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. More than 150 high school students have completed service projects during our MLK Youth Day of Service since 2015. YOAB members recruit and coordinate with volunteer sites, advertise the service opportunity to youth, and lead a reflection activity with each group.
Youth Town Halls
YOAB hosts town hall-style gatherings for young people, seeking to amplify youth voices within city government. The gatherings create opportunities for pre-teen and teens throughout Boulder to be informed, ask questions and share their opinions on important topics affecting our Boulder community.
In addition, YOAB in collaboration with the City Manager's Office, has held 'Chat with Council' events in which youth can speak directly with city council members about priority youth issues.
Some past Townhall topics include youth and police interactions, safety in public spaces, public transportation and use of e-bikes and city programs for the unhoused community.
Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards
The Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards (OYVA) are a yearly gathering honoring the volunteer work of youth from the Boulder community. Award winners provided outstanding volunteer service to their neighborhoods, communities, schools, and/or agencies in Boulder. The OYVA award holds particular significance within the work YOAB does due to its unique nomination process, where community members nominate each other, fostering a strong sense of community engagement and recognition of youth achievements.
